SBskin. Smart Building Skin s.r.l.-30

"A hybrid solar cell integrated glass block and prestressed panel made of dry-assembled glass blocks for the construction of translucent building envelopes", published Sept. 12th, 2013, registered in EU (no. EP2823498) with the divisional application no. 16156774.8; in US (no. US 14/382, 594), in JP (no. 2014-560527); in RC (no. 201380020346.1)

Description of the innovation project

SBskin’s promotes a new way of conceiving both the photovoltaics and glass block industry, through multifunctional translucent components for roofs and façades that optimize buildings energy performance, while enhancing their aesthetics. These panels are made of new high insulating 3D glass components integrated with dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) and/or with LED technologies.
Unlike existing photovoltaic solutions for building integration, SBskin’s solar products are fully customizable in color, transparency and design to adapt to the customers’ needs and architectural vision

State of dev.

Prototype

Industrial application

BIPV and building construction industries

Market segment

SBskin lies between the glass block and BIPV markets. Building sector shows market double increase in size over the next decade to reach a projected $6.7 trillion, with 36% growth in developed countries; BIPV annual installations are growing at a CAGR of 18.7% from 2013 to 2019 from a base of 343.1 MW in 2012.

Advantage factor

According to a RnR market research, BIPV's best chance to take off commercially is for vendors to emphasize aesthetics, and even the "smarts" of BIPV, and not just energy production. Energy cost saving, innovation, ease of installation, beauty + customizability and multi-functionality are key success factors in BIPV market and this is the direction undertaken by SBskin.

Commercial challenge

SBskin’s glass block and dry assembly system complies with the current energy regulations thus representing an interesting market opportunity, that could launch again the use of glass block for external application in a potential market of at least 5 million pieces worth 35M €. Besides the energy performance, the aspects of design and customizability are also a unique selling points and, in this sense, the “Made in Italy” mark could be a distinctive point of strength for the product diffusion.

Publications and Customer Refereces

In the framework of the ZEROPLUS project (http://zeroplus.org/), funded by EU and started on November 2015, SBskin’s solutions will be implemented in one of the four demonstration sites (Voreppe, France). The pilot installation will help attract further investments for completion of certification and launch of large-scale production lines.